Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5324
AFCA Division III Top 25 Poll - Week 4
D3football.com Week 4 Top 25 Poll
Sept. 30, 2025 - North Central College football continues to dominate the national rankings, holding firm at No. 1 in both the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Top 25 Poll and the d3football.com Top 25 Poll after a commanding 44-14 victory over Washington University in St. Louis.
The Cardinals jumped out to a 24-7 lead against the Bears, highlighted by Rahmareon Roby's pick-six for the game's first score. Kicker Aidan Ellison earned both College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Special Teams Player of the Week and D3football.com's Team of the Week honors for his performance Saturday, which saw him hit 49, 47 and 24-yard field goals.
Trailing North Central in both rankings are the University of Mount Union, Johns Hopkins University St. John's University and the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. The Cardinals' next opponent, Wheaton College, comes in at No. 14 in the d3football poll and No. 15 in the AFCA rankings.
Hosting the Thunder for Homecoming, North Central and Wheaton will Battle for the Little Brass Bell, the annual trophy between the two programs. The Cardinals have won the past four matchups, including a 55-27 victory last season. This contest is set for 6 p.m. inside Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.
